Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

19 reviews

oldemort's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I've decided to rate this book 4 ⭐️. I still really enjoyed it, just less than the first book. 🥲

Let's be real, the reason I didn't like this book as much was the lack of the Darkling content and the ton of Mal content.  😅

Character wise, I still found Alina a bit immature and annoying at times, but I think I liked her a bit more than in Shadow and Bone. 🙂 Obviously, I still love the Darkling and I wish there was way more of him in this book. 😍

The only thing that I didn't really like that he did was making his monsters hurt Genya like that. 😬 I mean, I get why he did it, because she'd kind of betrayed him and all, but still. 🫣

Mal, I COMPLETELY HATED WITH EVERY BONE IN MY BODY. 🤬He's so annoying and petty and throughout the whole book just seemed to be trying to start arguments with Alina and was constantly blaming her for things that weren't even her fault. 😤

Also when he said: 

 

"At least she doesn't flinch when I touch her,"

 

 

That was so disgusting! 🤢 And this is the character I'm supposed to like?! 😧

Anyway, I quite liked Nikolai, 

although I guess that was because in some ways he was similar to the Darkling, like the way he's constantly just trying to annoy Mal. 🤭

He was also funny sometimes.  😂 As for Tamar and Tolya (I'm pretty sure that's their names), they were okay. 😐 I liked how they were looking after Alina, 

but the whole "plot twist" with them secretly, like, following the Apparat person didn't really bother me much. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Like, I wasn't gob-smacked. 😶 I didn't expect it, but I didn't really care about it. 🫤 Like, obviously he's creepy and a weirdo, but meh. 🫥Although I think it would be cool if there was, like, a plot twist in the next book that was something to do with him. 😎 It just kind of seems weird that he's still such an important character if he isn't going to be involved in a plot twist of some sort. 🥸

 

Plot wise, the end of this book made me sad. 😭

Like, the poor little Darkling thought Alina was going to be nice to him and help him and then she was just like "sike, I wanna take your power". 😣 He's just so misunderstood. 😔 I really liked the plot twist with Vasily thinking he'd made a great deal because I was thinking "Surely he can't actually do anything good or smart" and then BAM! 🤯 He was a massive idiot and basically helped the Darkling get to them. 🤦🏼‍♀️ He kind of deserved to die, he was rude and arrogant. 😤 And then obviously I didn't like when Alina tried to take the Darkling's power because that was just rude! 😠 How dare she! 😡 I really thought for a second she was just going to go with him. 😞 She clearly picked up a few manipulative tactics from the Darkling (and Mal). 🫣 Honestly, Mal was really annoying when he decided to save Alina. 😒 Like, I think it would've been a good ending if they'd have both just died. 🥲 But now, because of Mal, Alina has no power and they're basically just doomed. 😬 It's kind of cool that Alina has white hair now though.  😅 I wonder if the Darkling lost his power too? 🤔 Or if he's still got his power and he's got Alina's as well now? 🧐

 

Anyway, I'm excited to see what happens in the next book, 

especially with Alina not having her power now. 🤩

My ideal ending would be either Alina and the Darkling dying because, I don't know, that just seems like a peaceful ending, or with Mal dying and Alina and the Darkling ending up together (which I don't think is very likely).  🙃

However, I think that the Darkling will die (seeing as that's the only actual way to, like, ensure that he can never do evil again) and that Mal and Alina will live and be together and live happily ever after, even though I obviously don't want that to happen. 😣 (Also, my prediction may end up being correct, so that's why this is in the spoiler bit, just in case. 😌 I mean, my ideal endings could also come true, but I highly doubt it.) 🙃

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Cursing, Gun violence, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Grief, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

lilawsahar's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

It was slow in the middle. The action was packed in the beginning and end of the book. I loved how the book ended.

I love that Alina and the Darkling are wounded. They need to heal before their final battle. That Alina tricked the Darkling into thinking she’d go with him when she used his power to try and destroy him. I feel bad for Genya. I’m glad she’s back with David though.

I also love how three men are vying for her power (and love?). I want her to be with the darkling or the prince. I kind of am rooting for the Darkling to win the war. Just for the plot hehe. 

Also I hate the lead character lol

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

petradannibale's review

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Violence, Blood, and War

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol

undecidedpersonality's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Torture, and Classism

Minor: Child death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, and Fire/Fire injury

wishyouweresober's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War

littletiramisu's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Torture

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

brandie_abbie19's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

itsmemiana's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

loved this a lot.

I'm in love with Nikolai and Mal. (the darkling can die, although I love Ben Barnes and I think he deserves the world. ..........and he's really hot.......... but anyways.......)

can't wait to get the third one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Torture

thesecretsapphic's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, and War

Moderate: Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Trafficking

safety_pin's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and War

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Blood

Minor: Domestic abuse and Schizophrenia/Psychosis